Cognitive dissonance: savvy insider Mansoor Ijaz is really irritated at the deportation of Yusuf Islam (aka Cat Stevens). Really.
Actions by US authorities in Bangor, Maine, where the United Airlines flight was diverted Tuesday, demonstrate the failure of American domestic and security policy, both tactically and strategically, to discern who the bad guys really are.I have argued vigorously before on these pages and in other international media that our responsibility to stand up as citizens in a time of war and crisis takes precedence over enjoying the civil rights afforded us by the sacrifices of those who have given their lives so we can live free. But when the type of global citizenship displayed by Mr. Islam, which goes to the very heart of what humanity is about, is struck down by artificial and arbitrary implementation of US antiterrorism statutes, it's time to reexamine those laws, and to reexamine the license to practice of those who are charged with protecting our civil liberties.
Yusuf Islam is a beacon of light and hope in a sea of fear, chaos, and uncertainty that was extinguished this week out of fear and paranoia that seemingly have no end. If Mr. Ashcroft is willing to take Yusuf Islam off that plane, then next time he'd better be willing to take me off as well.
It is time to take back America's civil rights from those who would abuse it for their own narrow political agendas.
Yet multiple observers cite numerous examples why Yusuf Islam could legitimately be found on a watch list. Hmm.
It's impossible to reconcile from the outside. Meeting Mansoor Ijaz's demand may be the only way to resolve the dispute:
Either Attorney General John Ashcroft and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge should make the evidence against Mr. Islam public and detail it sufficiently that all can see his sins in an objective light, or they should issue an official apology to the peace activist and explain how American laws got hijacked in such a cavalier manner.
As noted earlier, another unanswered question is: shouldn't the National Targeting Center be able to identify risky passengers before the planes take off?
Posted by Alan at September 24, 2004 01:35 AM